Black brush lettering on ivory handmade paper: “Before we speak, we can ask God to shape the heart behind our words.”

A Prayer Before a Difficult Conversation

There is a conversation you know you need to have. You have rehearsed the first sentence, imagined the response, and perhaps rewritten it several times. Before you begin, there is room to ask God for help with your own heart.

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;

(Psalm 141:3, NIV, excerpt)

David’s prayer in Psalm 141 joins guarded speech with a heart that resists evil. Later in the psalm, he welcomes correction from a righteous person and fixes his eyes on the Lord. He asks for help both with what comes out of his mouth and with what he is willing to receive.

Bring your heart into the preparation

As followers of Jesus, we can prepare to speak truthfully while remaining open to correction ourselves. That preparation might include naming what happened accurately, setting aside assumptions about another person’s motives, and deciding what you need to ask.

Write down one clear sentence that explains your concern. Then write one honest question that will help you listen. A trusted, wise person can help you prepare when the situation is complicated.

Before speaking, pray through the words below. You can carry them into a phone call, a meeting, or an ordinary conversation at home. Ask God to shape the tone as carefully as the words.

A prayer

Lord, prepare my heart for this conversation. Guard my speech, help me listen, and give me courage to speak with truth and love. Show me where I need to receive correction. May my words honor Jesus. Amen.

Read Psalm 141:1-4 in the NIV.

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